Introduction to Imaging Modalities

Dr Ahmed Banjar
Radiology and nuclear Medicine
abanjar@ut.edu.sa
Aims
Recognize the difference between ionizing radiation
and non ionizing radiation
Learn different imaging modalities
Approach imaging studies
Introduction
Ionizing radiation

Non-ionizing radiation
RADIATION DOSE AND
SAFETY
 Three Fates of Radiation During an Imaging
Procedure
Transmitted radiation
Absorbed radiation
Scatter radiation
RADIATION DOSE AND
SAFETY
 Measurements of Radiation
absorbed dose gray (Gy).

 effective doses Sievert (Sv)

RADIATION DOSE AND
SAFETY
 Biological Effects of Radiation:

 Directly damaging molecules

 Indirectly creating free radicals to disrupt cellular
metabolism
 RADIATION DOSE AND
SAFETY
Types of Biological Effects;
 Deterministic effects (nonrandom):
• threshold level is met . where the dose is usually given in one exposure or
several exposures over a very short period of time.
• These effects occur when the level of radiation-induced cell damage
exceeds the cell’s ability to repair the damage.
 Stochastic effects (random):
• Without a threshold dose.
• These effects occur by chance, and while their probability increases with
an increasing dose, their severity is independent of the dose.
• These effects are due to damage of cellular components, usually DNA, by
free radicals, leading to abnormal cell function if repair is incomplete or
incorrect.
• Stochastic effects are “invisible damage” and may not manifest until many
years after exposure.
The three major radiation safety practices:
time,distance, and shielding.
Thermionic emission
Conventional radiography
Ionizing radiation

 Advantage :
Inexpensive

 Disadvantage :
Limited range of densities
 Ionizing radiation
Conventional radiography
 The five basic densities :
Air
Fat
Soft tissue and fluid
Bone
Metal
Computed Tomography
 Gantry with a rotating x-ray beam and multiple
detectors.
Computed Tomography
 Hounsfild Unit (HUs):
-1000 to +1000 , According to the tissue density
(window).
CT scans can also be windowed in a way that
optimizes the visibility of different types of pathology
after they are obtained, a benefit called post
processing
Denser substances that absorb more x-rays have
high CT numbers.
Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography
 Disadvantage:
requires an expensive scanner.
space dedicated to its installation
sophisticated computer
utilize ionizing radiation (x-rays) to produce their
images.
ULTRASONOGRAPHY
Utilize acoustic energy
transducer both produces the ultrasonic
signal and records it. The signal is processed for its
characteristics by an onboard computer
 inexpensive compared with CT and MRI scanners.
They are widely available
Ultrasonography is generally considered to be a very
safe imaging modality
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
IMAGING
 Potential energy stored in the body’s hydrogen atoms.
 No ionizing radiation and produce
 MRI is widely used in neurologic imaging and is particularly sensitive
in imaging soft tissues such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
 They are expensive to acquire and require careful site construction
 high ongoing operating cost.
 there are safety issues associated with the extremely strong magnetic
fields of an MRI scanner, both for objects within the body (e.g., cardiac
pacemakers) and for ferromagnetic projectiles in the MRI scanner
environment
FLUOROSCOPY
Ionizing radiation (x-rays) is used in performing real-
time visualization
 x-ray unit specially fitted to allow
for controlled motion of the x-ray tube, as well as the
imaging sensor and the patient,
spot films obtained during the procedure.
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Iadioactive isotope
Vast majority of radioisotopes used in medicine are
produced artificially.
Radiopharmaceuticals are combinations of
radioisotopes attached to a pharmaceutical that has
binding properties that allow it to concentrate in
certain body tissues
 SPECT and PET
Thanks